Vehicle body suspension



G. H.\TABER VEHICLE BODY SUSPENSIGN Filed Feb. 1931 Wg'lfhi.

July 26, 1932.

INVENTQR Geer/yc' ff. //Ser Wzl: ATTORNEY Patented July 26,v 1932 i STTS rAiTEN- Fica GEORGE E. TABER, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK VEHICLE BGDY SUSPENSION .Application filed February 9, 1931. Serial No. 514,406.

with means for supplying an expansible fluid thereto in amounts to adjust the suspension to a desired height or clearance between the frame and the axle for any load condition. A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a novel resilient chambered device for use in a suspension for the body of a vehicle. A still further object of the invention is to provide in connection with a spring suspension of a vehicle a resilient Huid means which may be adjusted to lift the body above the normal balance line of the spring suspension so that a desirable amount of the body Weight may be sustained substantially by the resilient :duid means whereby vibrations are reduced and easier riding action obtained.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts all of which will be hereinafter described; the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of a vehicle equipped with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view of one o the expansive and resilient chambered devices;

F ig. 3 is a view in elevation of one of said devices; and,

F ig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the compression chamber.

The most common form of body suspension for vehicles comprises a spring means in the form of leaf springs. These springs are interposed between the frame and the axle and are as a rule constructed for sustaining the maximum carrying load of the vehicle and must therefore be stiff .enough to prevent striking between the frame and the axle or spring parts under the maximum load conditions. -This construction, however, produces,

particularly with light loads, a very hard rid- V.5

ing action. The provision oflighter springs would under heavy loads, cause the frame to strike the axle or spring parts although giving an easier riding action for light loads.

AAccording to this invention, a suspension is provided-which may be adjusted readily by the driver of the vehicle to meet any load condition while atthe same time obtaining an y eas riding action for such load condition.

n carrying out this invention, it is preu ferred to interpose between the frame 1 and the axle 2 a leaf spring suspension 3 of an)7 known form but preferably constructed so as not to sustain the maximum carrying load but to sustain substantially only the minimum 70 load of the vehicle.

Associated withthis spring suspension or supporting means is a readily adjustable resilient suspension or supporting means 4.

This readily expansible resilient suspension 15 means, Vin this instance, embodies one or more adjustable and expansible chambered devices each preferably in the form of a vertical column made of pliable material such as rubber or rubberized fabric capable of B0 holding air' without leakage, and' being provided with hollow annular enlargements 5 arranged one above the other. In this instance, two of these devices are shown interposed between the rear axle 2` and the frame 1, 85

the rear axle having for each device a head 6 clamped thereto at 7 and having the lower end of a column 4 clamped to. such head at 8. The upper end of the column is clamped at 9 to a head 10 which has a bracket arm 1'1 00 secured at 12 to the frame 1. Each head 10 has an opening 13 communicating with the head and the interior of the column.k In this instance, the two columns communicatewith each other through the two pipings 14 and u i a pipe 15 which communicates with a pressure controlling chamber 16 to which air is supplied through the opening 17 by any suitable means. The pressure controlling charnber has, within it a movable piston or dlahragm 18 which through a screw rod 19 liaving a rigid connection 20 with the piston, and screw threaded engagement witha bushing 21 in the head of the cylinder 16 so that the turning of the rod 19 eects the movement of the piston 18 in the chamber or cyllnder and varies the capacity of said chamber or cylinder. The fact that both of the air columns are connected together and to the chamber or cylinder 16 makes the pressure in the two columns equal and at the same time gives to the air in the column a compression .or expansion eEect dependent on the position of' the piston 18 in the cylinder 16. By `adjustsame time the cylinder or chamber provides a storage space for sufficient air to give the desired cushioning effect. Itis apparent that if the body of air is too small'then ahard riding action will be obtained, whereas, if the body of air is too large, too great a resilienc'y will be obtained. This chamber permits the making of the expansion device relatively small and compact while at the same time giving a sutiicient body of air for ob taining the desired resiliency in said devices. In other words, it forms an auxiliary compression chamber for the expansible devices.l

In this instance, the air is supplied by an air pump 22 which can through a multiple v way valve 23 be used for supplying air to a reservoir or reserve tank 24 or supplying air through an outlet 25 for inating tires. rlhe valve 23 may also be turned to connect the reservoir 24 with the outlet 25 so that the tires may be inflated from the reservoir or reserve tank. Leading from the reserve tankA is a piping 26 which connects with the'openin this piping 26 is a multi-way valve 27 which may be employed for connecting the reservoir 24 with the compression chamber 16, or for connecting the compression chamber 16 with an exhaust outlet 28, or for closing both the pipin A pipe 29 may lea from the reservoir or reserve tank 24 to a suitable pressure gage, not shown,'for the purpose of indicating the pressure in the reserve tank 24. A pipe 30 mdeads'from the piping 26 between the valve `27 and the opening 17 for the purpose of determining the pressure actingly engaged in the suspension.

With this invention, the ordinary spring suspension is preferably combined with a separate resilientsupporting means, both being' separately',interposed between the axle andthe frame-of the vehicle. The resilient supporting means is adjustable to the load v condition and preferably holds the frame abovethe balance linejof the -spring suspension.` In this embodiment, the separate adjustable resilient means is in the form of an expansible chambered device to which air or to secure ,by Letters ing this piston the compression -in the air, columns can be raised or lowered and at the ing 17 of the compression chamber 16, and' 26 and the outlet 28.

other ex ansible fluids may be readily supplied. E compression chamber may connect with one or more of these devices in order that the device may be made of a' minimum size while at the same time the body of air controlled by its expansion and contraction is o-f` a sufficient amount to give the desired ridin qualities. f

hat I claim as m invention and desire atent is:

1. In combination with a vehicle frame, and an axle, a suspension for the frame embodying resilient means interposed between the frame and the axle including a yielding air containin chamber, and a compression. chamber havmg communication with said yielding air containing chamber to prevent excessive pressure in the yielding air containing chamber, and means for varying the effective cubical contents of the compression chamber. l

2. The combinationwith a spring sup orted vehicle frame, of supplementary yie ding supporting means for the said vehicle frame comprising an expansible chamber, an air chamber connected with the expansible'chamber, a movable element within the expansible chamber for `varyingV the capacity thereof and the contained air'pressure forvsustaining the load, kand 'means between the said movable element. and` expansible chamber for adjusting the element and holding it in the required adjusted position.

3. The combination with a spring support-- nected to the expansible chamber, means for varying the eective capacity of the air chamber and the pressure of the air therein,

a reserve air tank, a valved connectionfbe? tween the reserve tank and the air chamber, an air compressor,and a valved connection hetgeen the air compressor and the reserve tan 4. In combination with a vehicle frame and an axle, a suspension for the frame supporting the frame from the axle, including springs interposed between the frame and the axle, a separate resilient supporting means interposed between the axle and the frame including an expansible chamber for the reception of a duid, a hollow head vmeans interposed between the axle and the clamped to one end of said chamber and comframe including an ex ansible chamber for the reception of a uid, a hollow head clamped to one end of said chamber and communicating with the latter and having an ..Iarm secured to the frame and also provided "with an inlet opening for the Huid, means for supplying fluid to the said chamber through said inlet of said head, and means for changing the amount of air in said chamber to meet road conditions. l

6. In combination with a vehicle frame and an axle, a suspension for the frame sup-l porting the frame from the axle, including springs interposed between the frame and 5 the axle, a separate resilient supporting means interposed between the axle and the frame including an open ended expansible chamber for the reception of a fluid, a hollow head clamped to one end of said cham- 0 ber and communicating with the latter and having an arm secured tothe frame and also provided with an inlet o ening for the fluid, means for supplying Huid to the said chamber through said inlet of said head, a head i; clamped to the opposite end of said chamber and. having connection with the axle, means for supplying air to the chamber through the rst named head, and means for controlling the supply of .air to the chamber.

o 7. ln combination with a vehicle frame and an axle, a suspension for the frame supporting the frame from the axle, including springs interposed between the frame and the axle, a separate resilient supporting means l5 interposed between the axle and the frame including an o en ended expansible chamber for the reception of a. Huid, a hollow head clamped to one end of said chamber and communicating with the latter and having an arm a secured to the frame and also provided with an inlet opening for the fluid, means for su plying iuid to the said chamber through said inlet of said head, a head clamped to the opposite end of said chamber and having 5 connection with the axle, means, for supplying air to the chamber through the first named head, means for controlling the su ply of air to the chamber a reserve air tan, and a valved connection between the reserve 0 tank and the air chamber.

' GEORGE H. TABER. 

